Insecticidal toxins described herein are fused toxin peptides made up of a targeting domain fused to a toxin domain. The targeting peptide generates a specific association with mosquitoes by causing the fused toxin peptide to bind mosquitoes in a way that leads to the insecticidal activity. Transgenic plants described herein are mosquitocidal by expressing an insecticidal toxin protein in nectar that includes a targeting peptide to ensure specificity against mosquitoes. These transgenic plants serve as role models for safety, since they are non-crop plants and specific to one mosquito species.

Provided herein are methods for increasing plant cell transformation efficiency. These methods include exposing the plant cells to a liquid medium containing a surfactant. Following exposure to the surfactant-containing medium, the cells can become more amenable to transformation and may be genetically transformed using methods known in the art. Exposure of the cells to the surfactant-containing medium prior to transformation can increase plant transformation efficiency when compared to transformation efficiency of cells not exposed to the surfactant-containing medium.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Hemipteran, Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

The present invention belongs to the field of genetic engineering. Specifically, the present invention relates to a directed evolution method based on geminivirus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a directed evolution method for in vivo screening of a genetic element in a plant cell by using primary and secondary replicons of geminivirus.

The present invention belongs to the field of genetic engineering. Specifically, the present invention relates to a directed evolution method based on geminivirus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a directed evolution method for in vivo screening of a genetic element in a plant cell by using primary and secondary replicons of geminivirus.

Metabolic activity is exhibited against a larger number of compounds having different acting properties. A cytochrome P450 gene encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, and 8.

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides isolated FAD2, FAD3, FAB1 and FAE1 genes and FAD2, FAD3, FAB1 and FAE1 protein sequences of Camelina species, e.g., Camelina sativa, mutations in Camelina FAD2, FAD3, FAB1 and FAE1 genes, and methods of using the same. In addition, methods of altering Camelina seed composition and/or improving Camelina seed oil quality are disclosed. Furthermore, methods of breeding Camelina cultivars to produce plants having altered or improved seed oil and/or meal quality are provided.

Provided herein is a method for improving growth, stress tolerance and productivity of a plant. Also provided herein is a method for increasing seed quality of a plant. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method for improving growth, stress tolerance and productivity of a plant, comprising: providing a transgenic plant, which includes a reduced expression on an MYBS2 gene as relative to its wild-type counterpart; and a method for increasing seed quality of a plant, comprising: providing a seed from a transgenic plant, which overexpresses a full-length MYBS2 gene or a mutant MYBS2 gene as relative to its wild-type counterpart.

The present disclosure relates to base-editing systems including a fusion protein including a DNA-binding domain and a cytidine deaminase domain and a non-protein uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor, and methods of using the same. The DNA-binding domains of base-editing systems of the present disclosure include domains with a variety of target region possibilities, which increase the number and type of sequences that can be edited. The npUGIs of the base-editing systems of the present disclosure improve UDG inhibition (e.g., UDG inhibition is more complete) and are suitable for use in a wide range of organisms.